Redruth 38 Southend 22
Redruth put an end to their five match losing streak, outscoring their visitors by six tries to four in an entertaining match played in difficult conditions, reports Bill Hooper from the Recreation Ground.
Playing towards Hell Fire Corner in the first half though against the breeze, the Redruth pack soon got on top of their Essex opponents with two Chris Fuca tries scored from set scrums near the Southend line, Paul Thirlby adding the conversion to the second score.
Southend profited from an error in the Reds defence to kick to the corner and set up a drive to send lock Alan Barker over for an unconverted try.
Redruth maintained their forward pressure to reap their reward just before half-time. A series of scrums near the visitor's line saw the ball booted out of the scrum in desperation leaving referee Mr Watters little choice but to award a penalty try, which Thirlby converted for a half-time score-line of 19-5.
The Reds got the second half off to a great start to secure the try-scoring bonus point as backs Lewis Vinnicombe and Tom Notman combined to send full back Notman in for the first of his two tries in the scoreboard corner.
Southend should good spirit to strike back from the re-start, a break from scrum-half Sam Arnott putting prop Todd Bailey in for their second try, full-back Rob Kirby landing his only successful kick from five attempts at goal.
Back came the Reds, a powerful drive from flanker Matt Gidlow set up a fifth try for the Reds scored by hooker Neal Turner with Thirlby again adding the extras in the tricky wind.
Southend hacked the ball into the Redruth 22 forcing the Reds to concede a five metre scrum. In the confusion that followed No.8 Daniel Legge bagged a try for his side.
Notman and Vinnicombe again combined to send the full-back sliding in for his second try of the game to seal the win, Thirlby adding his fourth conversion from wide out.
Vinnicombe was shown a yellow card late in the game for a professional foul as Southend looked for a try-scoring bonus point. The pressure finally told as flanker Chris Green gave Southend a point to take back to the east coast.
The Redruth faithful were just happy to see the club's poor run put behind them and now look forward to their favourites finishing the season on high in their last two games.
Redruth 38 pts
Tries – Fuca (2), Penalty-try, Notman (2), Turner, Conversions - Thirlby (4)
Yellow Card – Vinnicombe (80)
Southend 22 pts
Tries – Barker, Bailey, Legge, Green, Conversion - Kirby
Redruth: T Notman, L Vinnicombe, C Bonds (C P Williams 72), S Evans, B Drew, P Thirlby (A Hosking 70), N Simmons, D Jacques (J Drew 60), N Turner (R Brown 51), C Williams, D Cook, L Collins, M Gidlow, O Hambly, C Fuca (Capt) (N Broadbank 70)
Southend: R Kirby, D Cleare, C Vaughan, T Ashton, L Macgeachy, B Burr, S Arnott (J Daley 72); J Armitage (C Stachen 70), C Keenan (A Ferrier 51), B Todd, A McClintock, A Barker, C Green, H Hudson (S Fombo 44), D Legge
Replacement (not used): D Ox
Referee: Phil Watters (RFU)
Crowd: 624
Redruth-man-of-the-match: Matt Gidlow
